River Itchen, Hampshire, UK

© Julian Gazzard/Shutterstock

The pretty River Itchen is straight out of the pages of children's book The Wind in the Willows. People stroll along its bucolic banks keeping an eye out for Ratty as they go – water voles are one of the protected species that live here. You’re also likely to spot dragonflies dancing above the surface and fat trout gliding through the crystal-clear waters. The beautiful chalk “stream” flows from mid-Hampshire to Southampton and has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It’s also home to otters and white-clawed crayfish.

Lesser-known but beautiful rivers around the world (msn.com)

River Itchen, Hampshire, UK The pretty River Itchen is straight out of the pages of children's book The Wind in the Willows. People stroll along its bucolic banks keeping an eye out for Ratty as they go – water voles are one of the protected species that live here. You’re also likely to spot dragonflies dancing above the surface and fat trout gliding through the crystal-clear waters. The beautiful chalk “stream” flows from mid-Hampshire to Southampton and has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It’s also home to otters and white-clawed crayfish.